Poll: Who will get/got Windows 8 (and why)

[Bvenged]

It simply doesn't appeal to me. Shaving a second off of boot is meaningless for current home machines and from what I've read, how the OS operates the hardware isn't particularly groundbreaking in any way.

Windows 8 hasn't convinced me its a change for the best, but that it's just "a change". I'm getting a new machine in January and I have the choice between 7 & 8, and while I'll likely get W7 as it's more suitable, reliable, experienced, I can't help but feel that niggling feeling of missing out on something.

Windows 7 will still be supported for a good few years from now, so I'll just get it regardless, I have no interest in an app store or tiles UI. Why would Microsoft try and deter me anyway? They both cost the same for full install/backup copies.

 

[Lucky Godzilla]

The reviews have been by and large positive, and my friend who upgraded says it's actually pretty good. I'm still on the fence, but the $40 upgrade deal Microsoft is giving is pretty tempting.

Captcha: It's super delicious. Huh that too I guess.

 

[Coffeejack]

I will resist any change that I see as involving an unnecessary level of ball-ache for as long as I am able.

...I feel like I should write that down on paper so I can remember it. Just need to get it translated into Latin and I gots me a spanking family motto.

 

[VladG]

I have no intention of supporting Win8 and will try to keep it off my system for as long as possible (so basically until games will absolutely have to run on Win8).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REC4xwpX26g TotalBiscuit discusses the reasons for Question 3.

In short Microsoft is trying to transform Win into an Apple OS and they seem to be trying to kill PC gaming in the process (since Xbox is so much more profitable for them). Win8 is making aggressive strides towards that goal (though it's not there yet) and it's something I want to discourage. Therefore I will not buy it.

 

[VladG]

I heard that it was really locked down. Is this true? That could be bad for developers of all types of programs.

Not yet. But they are very aggressively pushing their app store, their development platform and those DO lock everything down pretty hard. They are clearly dipping their toes into Apple-like platform locking and if they ever go that far, it will be a terrible thing indeed for all forms of PC gaming.


Personally I'm all for Steam pushing Linux and as soon as my games and my programs run on Linux without any significant ball-ache, I will never look back. Especially given Microsoft's direction.

 

[VladG]

Wont get it unless the following is met.

I am given a Key by my friend who works in retail for freeeee.
Windows 8 becomes stable, every game and tool i use today works. And We can shut of that bloody METRO stuff.

Then yes, maybe!.

Captcha: Karma Points, DAMN straight!

Pretty certain the Metro interface is entirely optional. It's basically future-proofing (and to some degree pushing and testing) for the inevitable touchscreen (or similar) singularity. Tablets and phones, Laptops (more and more of which will feature touchscreens), their Surface, Xbox with Kinect...

 

[jpoon]

I have zero intent on "upgrading" to windows 8 from 7. There's just really no justifiable reason to do so. My games play more than good on windows 7 and every single piece of software I need operates how I expect it to (generally). I highly doubt Win 8 is going to do anything that much better that I will need to put up with that horrid looking UI.

I'll pass until Win 9 comes, when they'll more than likely revert to a PC UI and ditch the shitty looking touch interface bullshit.

 

[Nalgas D. Lemur]

I have windows 8 and it's horrible for me. Skype. My gods the skype. Anyone know how to change the settings so it doesn't full screen on me? Gods it's fecking awful to use, can't do a thing without alt tabbing to everywhere and it's ridiculous. I can't make the chat's smaller on skype at all, I just have this horrible full screen thing. I'm someone who uses skype constantly (I'm in a long distance relationship) so this was a big deal to me.

Good news! The new Skype is a Metro app, so...nope. It's pretty much doomed to suck like that. I saw something about it [http://mashable.com/2012/10/22/skype-windows-8-review/] a week ago that said it was great, but all the screenshots and the entire description sounded like the exact opposite of great. I mean, I've never liked the Skype UI to begin with, but at least before I could mostly ignore it most of the time...

 

[RicoADF]

I heard that it was really locked down. Is this true? That could be bad for developers of all types of programs.

Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro are just optimised and updated Windows 7. Windows RT which is the arm version of win8 for tablets/smartphones only uses the metro interface and is locked down to using their store (not sure if you can load any alternative) to prevent people trying to install x84 software on it and being confused that it doesn't work. Remember the average user is an idiot and win RT will encounter more of them than normal.

 

[Folji]

Not getting it for my desktop PC, there's no way I'd really benefit from the Metro environment or notice the differences with the optimized runtime. But at the same time I'm currently setting money aside for a solid tablet running an x86 version, whenever they actually hit the market since the focus right now is on Windows 8 RT. I'm a student, an artist and I kind of like mobile and retro games, so I figure an ultra-mobile touch-screen laptop/tablet hybrid would be just the thing I've always wanted! Convenient for lectures, really long battery time, access to mobile games as well as full support for old classic games, and it'd be a great digital sketchbook. Some models, like the ASUS VivoTab Smart, even come with Wacom technology in the screen for pressure sensitivity! Not to mention that it's not a beyond expensive special market commodity like Win 7 tablets are right now, how awesome isn't all that?

Captcha says "oh, wait". Don't jinx it, captcha!

 

[Roxor]

I'm hoping ReactOS will gain sufficient compatibility that I'll be able to move to that by the time desktop machines are using more memory than Windows 7 can handle.

 

[Whytewulf]

There isn't an option for me.. As I will be getting it with my new Laptop next year. I am getting conversion/slate/laptop/hypbrid, so 8 will beneficial.

 

[Padwolf]

I have windows 8 and it's horrible for me. Skype. My gods the skype. Anyone know how to change the settings so it doesn't full screen on me? Gods it's fecking awful to use, can't do a thing without alt tabbing to everywhere and it's ridiculous. I can't make the chat's smaller on skype at all, I just have this horrible full screen thing. I'm someone who uses skype constantly (I'm in a long distance relationship) so this was a big deal to me.

Good news! The new Skype is a Metro app, so...nope. It's pretty much doomed to suck like that. I saw something about it [http://mashable.com/2012/10/22/skype-windows-8-review/] a week ago that said it was great, but all the screenshots and the entire description sounded like the exact opposite of great. I mean, I've never liked the Skype UI to begin with, but at least before I could mostly ignore it most of the time...

Yeah, gods it is awful. The best solution to it is just to keep the laptop in desktop mode and install skype for desktop. It's annoying to have to do that, but oh well, not much I can do otherwise.

 

[Rainforce]

Well, I sure won't get it for the reasons already stated by a million others but...
at least it's graphically so primitive that it should run just fine on 640x480 VGA :' D
(why did we have all that 3D and shader fanciness in the last 20 years to begin with? blocky limited color buttons is where it's at, because as we all know: the less content, the higher the artistic expression power)
I'm not even that much of a graphics whore when it comes to games, but...metro (as we ll as the new windows logo) just looks primitive and bland, as if they didn't even try this time.
Also "ribbon" style menus just aren't that great to me.
EDIT: ALSO THE SKYPE THING, WTF.